EP1347100A1 - Arrangement for mounting guardrails - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment, staffed by a number of operatives (O, O1, O2, O3), consists of a first machine (M) with storage (4) and manipulating (5) systems for the safety barrier rails (G), a second machine (M1) for storing supporting posts and driving them into the ground, and a trailer (M2) for spacers (E). The first and second machines can be coupled in line, and at least one has a propulsion system for moving the equipment along the safety rail installation line.

Description

The invention relates to the technical sector of crash barriers installed along traffic lanes, such as roads or highways.

More particularly, the invention relates to crash barriers made from metal profiles, without excluding other embodiments.

The profiles of these metal slides are determined and studied at their transverse profile, to absorb energy under the effect of the impact of a vehicle for example. We can cite for example, by way of non-limiting indication, the teaching of patent FR 2 641 804 which discloses a safety barrier having an extended central groove, on either side, symmetrically, by profiled grooves appreciably rounded V which appear in overflow on the side of the road.
The ends of each slide are equipped with arrangements for fitting assembly members in order to fix them in alignment. The assembly of the slides between them and in alignment is carried out using assembly members of the bolt type passing through holes arranged opposite after overlapping the end of two slides arranged in alignment.

Whatever the embodiment, the slides are fixed on vertical supports sunk into the ground, at a determined distance from the edge of the taxiway to be equipped. Generally, fixing slides relative to the vertical supports is carried out via spreading organs.

The installation of the slides is a long, tedious operation and painful.

Les glissières sont déchargées et alignées sur le sol au niveau de leur emplacement définitif. Un véhicule conformé pour la mise en place des supports verticaux parcourt l'alignement résultant du positionnement des glissières. A chaque point de chevauchement des extrémités des glissières, l'opérateur bat un poteau. Il convient ensuite de soulever la glissière à mettre en place et de la fixer sur le support.

In one embodiment of the slides, the method of assembly of which implements members passing through through holes arranged facing each other after partial overlapping of the ends of the two slides, the positioning of said slides and their fixing to the vertical supports are carried out. as follows :

The slides are unloaded and aligned on the ground at their final location. A shaped vehicle for the installation of vertical supports traverses the alignment resulting from the positioning of the slides. At each point of overlap of the ends of the slides, the operator beats a post. It is then necessary to lift the slide to be put in place and fix it on the support.

We then proceed to the joining of the slide normally installed to the previous one by means of the assembly members, generally such as bolts and nuts. It therefore appears that, according to this method, the positioning and fixing of the slides is carried out in a fully manual, long and tedious, and requires labor important. In addition, risks of error cannot be excluded.

• on engage les ergots de la première glissière dans les lumières correspondantes de la glissière suivante ;
• on exerce un effort de traction sur les glissières pour enclencher les ergots et former un train de glissières ;
• on fait pivoter le train de glissières obtenu pour le disposer verticalement en position de pose sur les supports ;
• on détecte automatiquement, sur le train de glissières, les orifices de solidarisation aux supports ;
• on bat un support dans le sol au niveau détecté ;
• on contrôle automatiquement la profondeur d'enfoncement du support en arrêtant le battage dès la détection de l'alignement de l'orifice des glissières avec un trou correspondant du support ;
• on solidarise les glissières sur le support.

In an attempt to remedy these drawbacks, another solution has been proposed, as is apparent, for example, from the teaching of European patent EP 0 886 702. According to the technical solution disclosed in this patent, the slides are of particular design in order to be able to be hooked to each other in alignment for their final assembly. Essentially, the ends of the overlapping areas of each slide have a lug oriented along the longitudinal axis of the slide in the direction of its middle. This lug is intended to be engaged in a lumen of the adjacent slide. Given this specific design of the rails, it was possible to carry out a specific method for installing the rails. Thus, according to one of the characteristics claimed in the aforementioned European patent 0 886 702, this method of installation is characterized by the following essential steps:

• engaging the lugs of the first slide in the corresponding slots of the next slide;
• a pulling force is exerted on the slides to engage the lugs and form a train of slides;
• the slide train obtained is pivoted so as to arrange it vertically in the position of laying on the supports;
• the holes for fastening to the supports are automatically detected on the slide train;
• beating a support in the ground at the level detected;
• the depth of insertion of the support is automatically controlled by stopping the threshing as soon as the alignment of the orifice of the slides with a corresponding hole in the support is detected;
• the slides are secured to the support.

This technical solution brings significant progress compared entirely manual installation techniques. However, as noted, this technique can only be used for slides specific with specific arrangements in terms of their end of assembly allowing prior hanging. In other words, the laying method defined and claimed in patent EP 0 886 702 despite the significant advantages it provides, has no application universal and cannot, for example, be used with most metal slides currently on the market whose assembly, at level of their overlapping end, is effected by organs of bolting engaged in through holes arranged opposite after alignment and overlapping of said ends.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks, simple, safe, efficient and rational way.

The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to be able carry out the continuous installation of all types of metal slides in particular, by removing the maximum of manipulations in order to increase the rates, while having the objective of adapting to any type of configuration allowing to install any type of slides.

• une première machine présentant des agencements pour le stockage des glissières et des moyens pour leur manipulation et leur transfert ;
• une seconde machine présentant des agencements pour le stockage d'éléments supports et d'éléments écarteurs destinés à recevoir les glissières, ladite seconde machine présentant latéralement, d'une part, des moyens supports pour le maintien et le positionnement en alignement d'une manière sensiblement parallèle au sol, d'au moins deux glissières transférées à partir de la première machine et, d'autre part, de moyens pour battre les éléments supports ;
• lesdites première et deuxième machines présentant des agencements pour être accouplées à volonté en position d'alignement ;
• l'une au moins des machines présentant des moyens de propulsion et de déplacement au sol.

To solve such a problem, a device has been designed and developed which includes:

• a first machine having arrangements for the storage of slides and means for their manipulation and transfer;
• a second machine having arrangements for the storage of support elements and spacer elements intended to receive the slides, said second machine having laterally, on the one hand, support means for holding and positioning in alignment in a way substantially parallel to the ground, at least two slides transferred from the first machine and, on the other hand, means for beating the support elements;
• said first and second machines having arrangements to be coupled at will in the alignment position;
• at least one of the machines having means of propulsion and displacement on the ground.

To solve the problem of ensuring the transfer of a machine to the other, the means for handling and transferring the slides are constituted by an articulated arm equipped with gripping members capable of grasping the slide in a substantially horizontal plane and rotate it about 90 ° in a substantially vertical plane to position it in the means supports of the other machine.

To solve the problem posed of positioning the slides in view to fix them on the vertical supports, the support means for maintaining and the positioning of the slides consist of a guide path having arrangements capable of holding said slides in a substantially vertical plane and to allow relative displacement of slides and guide path.

The guide path has support and rolling means on the ground and overflows from the machine receiving it by a determined length for widely encroach on the other machine in the harnessed position of said machines.

• les moyens pour battre les supports, sont constitués par au moins un marteau de battage assujetti à des organes de commande et de détection de la hauteur d'enfoncement desdits supports ;
• chaque machine constitue des unités indépendantes et autonomes ;
• les agencements pour le stockage des éléments écarteurs sont constitués par une remorque apte à être attelée à la machine où sont stockés les éléments supports ;
• la machine recevant l'unité de battage présente, à l'opposé de ladite unité, un système de contrepoids ;
• le chemin de guidage pour le positionnement et le déplacement, dans un plan vertical des glissières, présente des moyens de réglage en écartement et/ou en hauteur.

According to other characteristics:

• the means for threshing the supports, are constituted by at least one threshing hammer subject to control and detection members of the driving depth of said supports;
• each machine constitutes independent and autonomous units;
• the arrangements for the storage of the spacer elements consist of a trailer capable of being coupled to the machine where the support elements are stored;
• the machine receiving the threshing unit has, opposite said unit, a counterweight system;
• the guide path for positioning and movement, in a vertical plane of the slides, has means for adjusting the spacing and / or the height.

• la figure 1 est une vue en plan à caractère schématique montrant le principe de fonctionnement du dispositif de pose de glissières selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de profil à caractère schématique de la machine de stockage et de manipulation des glissières ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face correspondant à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de profil à caractère schématique de la machine notamment pour le positionnement des glissières et le battage des supports ;
• la figure 5 est une vue arrière correspondant à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 montre l'accouplement des deux machines pour la mise en place des glissières selon la figure 1.

The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the figures of the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing the operating principle of the slide fitting device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the machine for storing and handling the slides;
• Figure 3 is a front view corresponding to Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a schematic profile view of the machine in particular for the positioning of the slides and the threshing of the supports;
• Figure 5 is a rear view corresponding to Figure 4;
• FIG. 6 shows the coupling of the two machines for the installation of the slides according to FIG. 1.

As shown in the figures of the drawings, the device for placing the safety barriers essentially comprises, on the one hand, a handling (M) and, on the other hand, a threshing machine (M1).

The machine (M) has arrangements for the storage of slides designated as a whole by (G), as well as means for handling and transfer. This machine (M) is of the type self-propelled and has a chassis (1) mounted on running gear ground support (2) some of which are directional. The training takes place by any suitable means such as thermal, electric or other motors (3). The chassis also has a driving position (P). A part of the machine constitutes a platform (4) for the storage of a plurality of slides (G). The slides are advantageously stored flat, very substantially lengthwise corresponding to the direction of moving and advancing the machine. The machine frame (1) has a manipulator arm at the storage platform (4) (5).

The manipulator arm (5), of any known and appropriate type, is subject to any means for his order being conformed to enter the minus one slide to rotate it by approximately 90 ° in order to position it in a substantially vertical plane to transfer it to a part machine (M1), as will be indicated below description.

For example, the manipulator arm (5) has a suction head (5a) able to grasp the slide positioned in a horizontal plane. This head suction (5a) can be subjected to a cylinder system (6) to make it rotate about 90 ° and position it in a substantially vertical plane. The articulated mounting of the head (5a) at the end of the arm (5) in combination with the jack (6) is not described in detail since it is likely to be the subject of different embodiments. Obviously, the whole arm manipulator (5) is mounted with multidirectional displacement capacity relative, in particular, to the storage platform (4).

The threshing machine (M1) has arrangements for storage of support elements (S) and spacers (E) intended to receive the slides (G). Note that the slides (G), the supports (S) and the spacers (E) are not described in detail, perfectly known to a man of the trade and type of those commonly used, being recalled, so important, that the device according to the invention can be used for laying all types of metal safety barriers in particular.

In the same way as the handling machine (M), the machine (M1) is of the self-propelled type and has a chassis (7) for supporting the ground by through rolling elements (8). The chassis (7) has a part (9) acting as a container for the storage of the supports (S). To note that the spacers (E) can be stored on an appropriate part of the machine (M) or on a trailer (M2) coupled to the machine (M1). Of even, the arrangements for storing the support elements can be consisting of a mounted platform with angular adjustment capacity and in translation relative to the chassis (7).

According to an important characteristic, the machine (M1) has laterally, on the one hand, means for holding and positioning in alignment, substantially parallel to the ground, of two slides (G) transferred from the handling machine (M) and, on the other hand, means for beating the support elements (S).

As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 4, the machine (M1) has longitudinally a guide path (10) having arrangements capable of holding the slides (G) in a substantially vertical plane and to allow relative movement of the slides. For example, the guide path (10) is made up of a plurality of rollers (11) arranged vertically to allow the slide to be held in the corresponding position. The rollers can be adjustable in spacing.
Likewise, the entire guide path can be adjustable in height and in spacing relative to the sides of the machine (M1). The guide path (10) corresponds at least to the length of the machine (M1) and extends beyond a determined length of the latter, to largely encroach on the handling machine (M) in the coupled position of said machines. The length of the guide path corresponds substantially to the length of the coupled machines. In order to compensate for the overhang, the guide path (10) is equipped with support members on the ground (12) by means of rolling members (13).

On the same side as the guide path (10), the machine (M1) has, as indicated, means for beating the support elements (S). These means are constituted, in a known manner, by at least one threshing hammer (14) subject to control and detection members the insertion depth of the support. Again, the whole hammer threshing (14) is mounted with height adjustment capacity and laterally, especially with respect to the machine (M1), especially its chassis (7).

Unlike the threshing hammer, the machine (M1) can have a counterweight system (15).

It is necessary to analyze the operating principle and the installation of slides with particular reference to Figure 1.

The operator (O) on the machine (M) controls the manipulator arm (5) to enter a slide (G) stored in the area (4) of the machine (M). Under the pivoting effect of the manipulator arm (5) and the orientation angular of the slide (G), via the suction head (5a) in combination with the cylinder (6), the latter is arranged on the path guide (10) of the machine (M1) between the vertical guide rollers (11). The slide (G) is therefore positioned in a vertical plane. Well obviously, the two machines (M) and (M1) are coupled.

The slide (G) is thus held by the machine (M1) and brought into concordance with the previous slide by an operator (O1) who ensures the assembly of the slides together by means of suitable members of the bolt type. During the complete cycle time, the operator (02) of the machine (M1) drives the support (S) using the threshing hammer (14). The operator (03) fixes the slide on the previously beaten support in combination with a spacer (E) if necessary.

After beating the support and fixing the slide, the operator (02) controls the progress of the assembly, the machine (M1) pushing the machine (M).

The two machines (M and M1) can be easily dissociated to the passage of delicate places, such as connections and others obstacles. The machine (M) can then pass behind the machine (M1) to install the slide on the support beaten upstream by the machine (M1) according to a ground tracing.

The device according to the invention finds an application particularly advantageous for metal safety barriers of transverse profile substantially in omega whatever the type of realization of these slides. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the device can also be used for the installation of wooden slides.

• la possibilité d'automatiser, en avancement et en direction, les machines permettant une souplesse de travail par rapport à tout système actuel ;
• les diminutions, d'une manière importante, des efforts du personnel ;
• les supports sont posés par paquets sur une plate-forme permettant au batteur de se servir en hauteur, en opposition aux techniques actuellement utilisées où les supports écarteurs sont posés au sol en amont du chantier ;
• le caractère modulable ;
• l'augmentation des cadences de pose.

The advantages emerge clearly from the description, in particular it is emphasized and recalled:

• the possibility of automating, in advance and in direction, the machines allowing a flexibility of work compared to any current system;
• significant reductions in staff effort;
• the supports are placed in bundles on a platform allowing the mixer to be used in height, in contrast to the techniques currently used where the spacer supports are placed on the ground upstream of the site;
• modularity;
• increasing laying rates.

Claims (10)

Device for installing guardrails in particular, characterized in that it comprises: a first machine (M) having arrangements (4) for the storage of the slides and means (5) for their manipulation and transfer; a second machine (Ml) having arrangements for the storage of support elements (S) and spacer elements (E) intended to receive the slides, said second machine (M1) having laterally, on the one hand, support means (10) for maintaining and positioning in alignment in a manner substantially parallel to the ground, at least two slides transferred from the first machine (M) and, on the other hand, means (14) for beating the support elements; said first and second machines having arrangements to be coupled at will in the alignment position; at least one of the machines having means of propulsion and displacement on the ground. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for handling and transferring the slides consist of an articulated arm (5) equipped with gripping members (5a) capable of gripping the slide in a substantially horizontal plane and the rotate about 90 ° in a substantially vertical plane to position it in the support means (10) of the other machine (M1). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means for holding and positioning the slides consist of a guide path (10) having arrangements (11) capable of holding said slides in a substantially vertical plane and allowing relative movement of the slides and the guide path. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide path (10) has support and rolling means on the ground. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide path (10) projects beyond the machine (M1) receiving it by a determined length to largely encroach on the other machine (M) in the coupled position of said machines. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for beating the supports, consist of at least one threshing hammer (14) secured to control and detection members of the driving depth of said supports. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each machine (M) and (M1) constitute independent and autonomous units. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the arrangements for the storage of the spacer elements consist of a trailer capable of being coupled to the machine (M1) where the support elements are stored. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine (M1) receiving the threshing unit (14) has, opposite said unit, a counterweight system (15). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide path (10) for positioning and displacement, in a vertical plane of the slides, has means for adjusting the spacing and / or the height.

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